A MUSICIAN who swapped Ainsworth for America has come up with a novel way to help raise money for needy children.

Otto Ohlsson (27), of Broomfield Close, has been on the west coast of America for six weeks now after flying out there for a bit of inspiration.

A shopping trip in San Francisco saw Otto buying a belt that was far too small for him, but has decided to take advantage of his surroundings and collect signatures on it from any stars he came into contact with. And on his return he hopes to put the belt up for auction on his website to be sold to the highest bidder.

But who better to start with than film star and musician Keanu Reeves.

He said: "I bought the belt just because I needed one but when I got back to the hotel to try it on, it was too small.

"So I decided to get celebrities to sign it while am out here, and auction it off when I get back and give the money to the NSPCC."

"But a few days later, I was in a hotel bar in LA just having a drink when I noticed that the guy sitting opposite me was Keanu Reeves. We got chatting about music because he's in a band and I asked him to help me out and sign the belt."

The musician has been busy playing gigs in bars and cafes across San Francisco and Hollywood, since heading out there at the beginning of October.

The set he has been playing, with just an acoustic guitar, includes tracks he has already recorded as an EP, a sampler to his yet untitled album, and a number of new songs that he plans to record when he returns, with sound engineer Al Unsworth.Immersing himself in American life has paid off, and he has met one of his musical idols Tom McRae and has been interviewed on San Francisco radio station KPOO.

Otto plans to return to the UK before Christmas but said it was difficult to plan for the festive season at the moment.

He said: "It's strange thinking that it is November and 85 degrees when you get up in the morning. I'm going to stay in LA till about mid December because I've still got so much to do and I'm find it a lot easier to write and be creative. I've also got a lot gigs to play and music to watch. Then I'll move on to New York before flying home."

The tracks on the EP are already available from his website and audience members have responded well to his songs.

Otto will be keeping a diary on his website during the tour at www.otto-music.co.uk.